For example, a shipboard fire on the aircraft carrier USS George Washington in May 2008 burned for 12 hours and caused an estimated $70 million in damage. For nearly 50 years, despite the severity of the threat from fire, no new methods for extinguishing or manipulating fire were developed.

In the new methods, the researchers turned to physics (electromagnetic and acoustic waves) rather than traditional chemistry to disrupt combustion.

This video shows a handheld device used to put out methane and liquid fuel fires. The electrode is housed in glass, so there are no sparks. It’s an “oscillating field” or “ionic wind” that extinguishes the flames.

The site’s next video shows how researchers used loud speakers and sound at different frequencies to blast the fire out.